Chiricahua Mountains - FIRE!

[MMM]

Update.

104,000 acres, 55% contained.

Map.

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ftp/InciWeb/AZ ... 700-1.jpeg

Notice.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2225/11612/

Forest closure.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/docume ... losure.pdf

Effective Immediately.

CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST TO CLOSE JUNE 9

Extreme Fire Danger, Threats to Public Safety Cause Temporary Closure.

Tucson, AZ (June 6, 2011) – Due to extreme fire danger and concern for public safety, the Coronado National Forest will be closed to all public use beginning at noon on Thursday, June 9 (36 CFR 261.52[e]). The temporary closure applies to all ranger districts of the Coronado National Forest, and includes visitor centers, campgrounds, picnic areas, trails, summer cabins, organization camps and all other public uses. District Rangers may authorize use for specifically permitted activities through Special-Use Permits. Violation of the closure is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. On the Santa Catalina Ranger District, the Catalina Highway (Mt. Lemmon Highway) will remain open during daylight hours so visitors may access Summerhaven atop Mt. Lemmon. Vehicles may not stop along the highway, and must use it strictly to access Summerhaven. The road will be closed at night. This closure will be lifted when significant moisture is received to reduce the wildfire threat to manageable levels.

Mike

[MMM]

Update.

55% contained. 104,000 acres, 3 dozers, evac orders lifted for Paradice.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2225/11630/

Mike

[MMM]

Update.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2225/11660/

40% containment. 116,000 acres. The national monument is burning.

Bad news.

Mike

[MMM]

Update.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2225/11750/

48% contained, 148,000 acres burned, south east side of monument burned.

Mike

[MMM]

171,300 acres burned so far. 53% conatined. Almost 1/2 of the monument now burned.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2225/11762/

Mike

[MMM]

Update. June 16, 2011.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2225/11809/

Fire Facts:

Date started: May 8, 2011

Number of Personnel: 1,379

Location: Portal, Arizona

Crews: 7 Type 1 and 31 Type 2

Size: 198,174 acres

Engines: 66

Percent Contained: 60%

Dozers: 3

Cause: Human

Water Tenders: 41

Estimated Containment: June 22, 2011

Helicopters: 4 Type 1, 1 Type 2 and 3 Type 3

Total structures destroyed: 23

Cost to Date: $41,239,939

Chiricahua National Monument has completely burned.

T see how big this monster is, go to the web site and click on Fire Perimeter in Google Earth. The fire will go over 200,000 acres by tomorrow.

Mike

[MMM]

Update.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2225/11853/

Date started: May 8, 2011
Number of Personnel: 1,284
Location: Portal, Arizona
Crews: 4 Type 1 and 28 Type 2
Size: 206,314 acres
Engines: 65
Percent Contained: 70%
Dozers: 2
Cause: Human
Water Tenders: 40
Estimated Containment: June 22, 2011
Helicopters: 3 Type 1, 1 Type 2 and 3 Type 3
Total structures destroyed: 23
Cost to Date: $43,271,795
Special Notice The Coronado National Forest and Chiricahua National Monument remain closed to the public.

In spite of strong winds, firefighters successfully held all containment lines yesterday. In addition, burnout operations in the southwest corner of the fire from Devil's Canyon around to Long John Canyon were completed last night. These lines will be patrolled and mopped-up today.

Crews will also continue firing off the line from Marble Canyon south to Buckhorn Basin as conditions permit. This will help to reinforce the line ahead of very strong winds predicted for Sunday. Firefighters will also concentrate on protecting or mopping up around structures in Wood and Emigrant Canyons, Pinery and Rucker Roads, and Chiricahua National Monument.

In the secured sections of the fire, firefighters will work to rehabilitate fire and dozer lines, and remove equipment no longer needed. Chipping of brush and trees that were removed along roadways will continue. Since the beginning of the fire, helicopters have dropped over 1.3 million gallons of water and retardant from the Ringo dip site, near West Turkey Creek. All of this water was transported to the site by water tenders.
People will continue to see interior smoke and burning which is normal while previously burned areas cool.
Closures/Advisories/Evacuations

West Turkey Creek remains in evacuation status.
Mike

[reptilist]

Thanks Mike!
I'm sure GLAD that my son and I hiked to the Heart of Rocks in the monument last year!

[MMM]

Update.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2225/11918/

Size: 223,214 acres

Engines: 57

Percent Contained: 90%

Dozers: 3

Cause: Human

Water Tenders: 38

Estimated Containment: June 22, 2011

Helicopters: 3 Type 1, 1 Type 2 and 3Type 3

Total structures destroyed: 23



Cost to Date: $46,736,999

Special Notice There will be a public meeting on June 21, 2011 at 6 p.m. at the Rodeo Community Center. Representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, the Great Basin Incident Management Team (IMT), the incoming Northern Rockies IMT and the BAER Team will be present to give briefings and answer questions about the Horseshoe 2 Fire. The Coronado National Forest and Chiricahua National Monument remain closed to the public.

Fire Update

Firefighters continued to hold the fire within containment lines and improve lines on the north flank of the fire yesterday. In the Rucker and John Long Canyon area, crews performed mop up and rehabilitation of hand and dozer lines. Mop up was also accomplished on the northwest flank of the fire in the vicinity south of Emigrant Canyon. Mop up, cleanup and rehabilitation work was performed south of Paradise.

Today firefighters will be constructing direct line in rough terrain on the northeast flank of the fire from Fox Canyon to Emigrant Canyon. Mop up, cleanup and rehabilitation of lines will continue on the west from Pinery Road to Emigrant Canyon and from Paradise north to Fox Canyon on the east. Crews will continue to chip brush and trees that were removed along roadways in most areas of the fire.

Closures/Advisories/Evacuations

All evacuations have been lifted; however, the forest closure remains in effect. All residents are asked to be extremely aware of falling trees due to today's predicted extreme wind event.

Map.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/map/2225/0/

Mike

[MMM]

I have a deep and special love of the Chiricahua mountains. I have been there maybe a dozen times begining in the early 1970s. The place is (was) amazing. A real "Sky Island". I have hiked all over the mountains when I was younger, and have spent a lot of time ine the Chiricahua Crystal Cave. That place is amazing, as it is like you walked into a huge geode, except the (geode) cave is miles long. I have been through both the entrance gate and the second gate that protects some of the caves most special places. The deep canyons near Portal will take your beath away, escpecally in a summer thunderstorm. Cave Creek is beyond words, in purity and depth of life. I can only hope the mountains will recover in our lifetime.

Mike